WAIMEA — Despite battling through what seems like an endless string of injuries this year, the Hawaii Prep girls soccer team continues to win despite every team in the BIIF gunning for them.
The wins are not coming easy for the five-time defending state champions as Hawaii Prep’s fans sit on the edge of their seats every game, waiting for what is becoming a traditional second-half surge.
Saturday’s game against Kamehameha played out no different, as Ka Makani fell down 1-0 in the first half, only to score two goals in the second half to pull out the comeback victory over the Warriors.
Hawaii Prep and Kamehameha has become one of the best rivalries in any sport on the Big Island, with the two soccer teams squaring off in the last seven BIIF championship games and two of the last three state title games.
Every match is a battle, too. Last year in the league title tilt, the Warriors defeated Ka Makani 5-4 on penalty kicks after both teams played scoreless through regulation and overtime.
The two teams then met in the state title game, with Hawaii Prep coming away with a thrilling 3-2 victory.
“We know it is going to be a battle every time we face them,” said Ka Makani junior captain and midfielder Jenna Perry. “For me, it gets me hyped. I play my best soccer against them. They push me more and I want the ball more.”
The coaches usually try to keep the girls grounded because of the frequency in which the teams play each other every season.
“The girls get excited,” said Hawaii Prep head coach Steve Perry. “As coaches, we try to downplay the games because we are probably going to face them a few times.”
During the latest installment of the rivalry, on a slighty overcast day in Waimea, Kamehameha took a 1-0 advantage in the 23rd minute when track and field standout Chenoa Frederick broke free and put the ball in the back of the net.
“Chenoa up top is speedy and we gave her a little too much space in the first half,” Steve Perry said. “In the second half (junior) Kahele Walsh and (freshman) Ruby Helmuth, in the middle, did a good job of tightening up on her a little.”
Down a goal at the start of the second half, Hawaii Prep’s Malia Brost gave the team the shot of adrenaline it needed with a quick goal to tie the game in the 45th minute.
“In the first half we controlled the ball pretty well … and I thought we did a good job of setting the tone, but we just weren’t doing much up front,” Steve Perry said. “In the second half, we got that quick break and Malia hit a good shot to give us a little energy. We were able to control the game from there.”
Ka Makani had several chances to take the lead as the second half ticked down. Finally, in the 64th minute of the game, junior Angela Cipriano received a through ball and then worked her way past the keeper and a defender for a tap in.
“Angela continued to put pressure on their back line — she was just pestering them,” Steve Perry said. “That goal represented how hard she was working in the game. She had to work very hard on those four yards to get that goal.”
Both Hawaii Prep and Kamehameha will have a nice little winter break before the second half of the season kicks off. For Ka Makani, the break will be a time for hard work and a chance to get healthy.
The team is still without its star senior forward and captain, Emi Higgins.
“Emi was running a little this week and is going to start working on the pitch with the ball,” Steve Perry said. “We are not rushing it. We are hoping to get her back in January.”
Perry added Higgins being out has allowed other members of the team a chance to get their feet wet.
“That will be good for us in the long run,” Steve Perry said. “This is a crew that is young. They just need to believe in each other a little more and trust each other a little more. That is in the intangible that we are working on.”
Hawaii Prep was missing starting junior keeper Maia Mills due to an ankle injury against Kamehameha. Freshman Regan Riley filled in against the Warriors, picking up the victory, while making several tough saves down the stretch.
Ka Makani will return to action on Jan. 3 when they host Ka’u. Kamehameha will be back in action on Dec. 29 for a home game against Waiakea.
Waiakea 10, Ka’u 0
Maiya-Ann Serrao recorded a hat trick and seven other Warriors scored a goal apiece in the road win.
Keilee Silva, Xailynn Lyman-Moke, Nayah Robertson, Quinn Prine, Kalena Kekaualua, Kaitlin Beatty and Aiyanna Fourshey also scored for Waiakea (4-3), and five goalkeeper saw time in the shutout of the Trojans (0-7).
Konawaena 2, Honokaa 0
The Wildcats (6-1) won in North Hawaii, dropping the Dragons to 1-6.
Makua Lani 3, Keaau 1
Tia Lurbiecki, Monilaite Moniati and Mara Duarte tallied goals as the Lions (4-3) broke .500.
Emily Turmelle gave the Cougars their first goal of the season, but Keaau fell to 0-7.
Boys
HPA 7, Kamehameha 1
Jake Schneider scored four goals, giving him 27 on the season, and Hawaii Prep improved to 7-0.
“It was a lot of hard work for Jake today,” Ka Makani head coach James Berry said. “Kamehameha posted a strong back line against him and he relied on the players around him to get the goals he needed.”
Berry specifically called out Conor Hunt for his unselfish play. Hunt also added a goal, along with Aiden Richardson and Noah Balaam.
The game was much closer than the six-goal lead indicates. Kamehameha took an early lead and with a minute to go in the first half, the match was tied 1-1.
Roughly 30 seconds before the break, Hawaii Prep managed to get a goal to go ahead. Then the flood gates opened in the second half.
“We made some small tactical changes in the middle line to provide more space for Hunt to work,” Berry said. “We also tightened up the back line.”
Jonathan DeMatta talled his 13th goal of an assist by Buddy Betts, but the Warriors (5-3) suffered their seventh consecutive 7-1 defeat.
Konawaena 1, Honokaa 0
Joshua Clifford scored midway through the second to lift the visiting Wildcats (2-5) to a much-needed win on the road.
Dragons coach Maurice Miranda said his team held a sizeable advantage in shots on goal but couldn’t get one past goalkeeper Jose Medina.
In dropping Honokaa to 1-6, Konawaena swept the season series – having also won 1-0 at home Dec. 6 – and took sole possession of fourth place in Division II
Waiakea 9, Ka’u 0
Aidan Santos scored twice and the Warriors (4-1-1) got goals from seven other players to roll in Pahala.
John Grover, Isaac Sumera, Sam Frazier-Jenkins, Kadin Hatakenaka, Chase Kotomori, Taylor Todd and Oli Bautista collected goals, and Sumera, Jeremy Spain and Tevita Hala-Latu were in goal for the shutout of the Trojans (0-7).
Hilo 9, Kohala 0
Riley Patterson scored three more goals, giving the senior 15 on the season, and Haku Perry also netted a hat trick at Hilo Bayfront for the Vikings (3-2).
Jack Mann scored twice, Logan Mizuba added a goal, and Jyson Breitbarth was credited for the shutout against the Cowboys (3-3).
Makua Lani 8, Keaau 0
Kai Van Bergen and Kawaihua Paikuli-Campbell each scored twice as the first-place Lions (7-1) rebounded from their first loss with a home win.
Ka’elele Fernandez, Kaipono Benson, Kahoku Benson and Stevan Perrino also found the back of the net, and Elliot Veisauyadra recorded the shutout of the Cougars (0-7).
